The Importance of National Mental Health Hotlines

Knowing how to talk to your friends about depression can be an overwhelming process. The initial discomfort of talking to your friends about depression is worth overcoming because it can often lead to high rewards. Connecting with friends can be an integral part of getting out of a depressive state. Talking to your friends about depression will usually strengthen your connection with others and can help provide you with an authentic community. If you can’t talk to your friends, recognize the importance of national mental health hotlines.

Mental health struggles require support from
others. While friends and family are integral, their strong emotional
attachment and lack of training can cloud their advice and hinder their ability
to sufficiently help in a moment of crisis. National mental health hotlines
provide trained, unbiased volunteers and mental health professionals who offer
empathy and defuse crisis situations.

Many people have a need for self-sufficiency
which has created a culture where people are so afraid to appear vulnerable,
they often don’t ask for help. Reaching out for help does not reveal weakness.
It requires tremendous courage and strength to supply yourself with the tools
to cope with your mental health struggles. National mental health hotlines
provide a safe space and the resources to help people get through moments of
crisis.

Mental Health is A National
Struggle

While discussing depression and mental health,
it’s important to remember that many cases are left unreported and untreated.
Even with the limited data provided, a report from Our World in Data revealed that 264 million
people worldwide suffered from depression in 2017. It is dangerous to leave
depression untreated. Not only is living with depression a crippling
disability, but it can also lead to self-harm and suicide.

Depression

Depression is a common mood disorder that
alters how you feel, think, and function. It’s often assumed that depression
stems from an imbalance in the brain’s chemicals. While this can be true, it is
also an oversimplification to state this as the only or the universal cause of
depression. There are a multitude of factors that can cause depression, including stressful
life events, medications, and medical problems.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “In 2017 an estimated 11 million U.S. adults aged 18 or older had at
least one major depressive episode with severe impairment. This number
represented 4.5% of all U.S. adults.” National mental health hotlines are not
exclusively for those contemplating suicide; they benefit anyone going through
an emotional crisis.

National
mental health hotlines are equipped to address substance abuse and other mental
health struggles that may be contributing to depression. According to mentalhelp.net, “Depression has a high rate of
co-occurrence with both anxiety (up to 60%) and substance use disorders.”
National mental health hotlines want you to be seen, heard, and understood.

If
you’re unsure if you’re symptoms are caused by depression, please refer to our
guide on how to know if
you’re depressed
as a resource. Please keep in mind that our guide does not serve as a
substitute for mental health treatment. If you’re still uncertain and would
like to talk to someone, you can call a national mental health hotline.

Suicide

While
not all depressive disorders lead to suicide, the two are linked. According to Mental Health
America, “More
years of life are lost to suicide than to any other single cause except heart
disease and cancer.” If you’re experiencing suicidal feelings but aren’t
contemplating taking immediate action for hurting yourself, you should call a
suicide hotline. If you are considering
taking immediate action to hurt or kill yourself, you should go to your nearest
Emergency Room or call 911.

Suicide’s
devastating results can be seen in the public spectrum. Many beloved public
figures such as Kate Spade and Robin Williams have
been lost to suicide. The lead singer of Old 97’s, Rhett Miller, has spoken candidly about his struggles with mental
health and his previous suicide attempt. “I was able to come through it and
carve out a life I love . . . I’m so glad that there are people out there like
the Suicide Prevention Lifeline who want to talk about it and want to let you
know that there’s hope because that can be enough and it’s a beautiful thing
and you’re going to make it through.”

Those
who are at a higher risk of suicide should take extra precautions and reach out
for support early. Common risk factors include previous suicide attempts,
substance abuse, a family history of mental illness, chronic diseases,
stressful life events, terminal illness, as well as feelings of isolation,
hopelessness, worthlessness, and social isolation. According to UC Santa Cruz, “Talking about the possibility
of suicide can alleviate the loneliness of the struggle and can be a first step
in obtaining help.” We need to reject the idea that talking about suicide
encourages suicidal tendencies when the opposite is true. Talking about suicide
frees those struggling with thoughts of death from their isolation reminding
them that there are people who can and want to help.

A Variety of National Mental
Health Hotlines Are Available

Crisis Text Line: 741741

Crisis Text Line is a national mental health
hotline for those who cannot speak on the phone or are uncomfortable doing so.
Their free crisis intervention is provided through SMS messages and are
available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Their Crisis Counselors are
trained volunteers capable of providing support but not medical advice. Crisis
Text Line handles every type of crisis, not just suicide.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline:
1-800-662-HELP (4357)

SAMHSA’s National Helpline is also known as
the Treatment Referral Routing Service (TTY). It serves as an excellent
resource to those seeking further, in-person assistance by referring people to local treatment facilities,
support groups, and community-based organizations. The SAMHSA’s National
Helpline’s free, confidential services are available 24 hours on every day of
the year. Additionally, you
can also use their online treatment
locator.

National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

The
National Suicide Prevention Hotline provides emotional support and guidance to
those in distress both over the phone and via chat services. They have a
multitude of options for those
with hearing impairment including: their online chat, video relay services (dial 800-273-8255),
TTY (Dial 800-799-4889), or voice/caption phone (dial 800-273-8255).

Mid City TMS is Available

We encourage anyone experiencing a crisis to
seek the immediate attention of a national mental health hotline. Our office
is also available as a resource for coping with and treating anxiety and
depression. The treatment services Mid City TMS provides
improves the lives of those suffering with these disorders by acting as an
effective long-term remedy. We want to help you or your loved one recover from
depression or anxiety. Contact us today and let us help you get
freedom from depression and anxiety.